Evi & Craig

Evi and Craig’s May soiree at Gaie Lea was a blissed out countryside party draped in rich jubilant colors and ecstatic moments of family connection. As May melded into June and afternoon clouds drifted in, the late spring nuptials shifted to a covered chuppah on the expansive 200-acre farm’s manicured lawn. 

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Virginia Tent Rental experts staged beautiful ceremony and reception space on the private hilltop estate and Sweet Southern Party wedding planners kept the celebratory energy going with streamer sticks waved after I-do’s, Jewish traditions sprinkled throughout the day, kids snapping shots with throwback disposable cameras on tables and a seamless ceremony that flowed right into a tented cocktail hour.

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Raindrops landed on the couple’s clear umbrellas and let up in time for a breathtaking newlywed photo shoot deep in the property’s nearby meadows and overlooking the endless countryside. Beloved Charlottesville wedding photographers from The Smiths Photography captured real life emotion through playful imagery in timeless black and white and film, along with crisp digital color. The husband-wife photographer duo caught a time-stopping first look, the groom waiting in his handsome ivory tuxedo flanked by towering oaks and graceful estate fountains, the bride beaming in excitement. 

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Bridesmaids struck a harmonious chord in a rainbow of deep reds, golds and peach floor-length gowns while a trio of adorable flower girls wore fresh garden flower crowns by Leap Frog Flower Farm. The talented floral design team dressed the day in loose, flowing summertime blooms, bringing ceremony and reception spaces to life in deep orange, yellow, white and fuchsia florals. 

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Eric Stamer Catering crafted a lively cocktail hour plied with an extravagant cheese and fruit display, fresh baked challah bread, springtime asparagus wrapped with prosciutto, mac-n-cheese balls and chilled tarragon-horseradish sirloin crostini. A custom buffet dinner impressed with herb-ricotta-stuffed chicken, baby greens with pear and goat cheese, an Italian baked penne, scalloped potatoes, wild mushrooms and a summertime cobbler with a decadent coffee bar. Late-night tacos, cocktails and a wedding party and bride and groom leap into the private estate home’s pool punctuated the evening.